Automatic fire-extinguisher.



A. C. SEEGER.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY ll, I916.

Patenteww. 20, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

18 fie @7 Z/ Q v Q L Q [L Q ii wanna 2 A. C. SEEGER.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. 19:0.

Patented M 20, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EI-Im- A. c. SEEGER. AUTOMATIC FIRE E-XTINGUISHER. APPLICATION FiLED JULY H1 1916.

Patented Nov. 20, 191?.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wbtmeoow lllE AUGUST C. SEEGEB, 0F EASE. ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHIEZR.

marten.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST C. Seneca, a citizen of the United States, residing at East St. Louis, in the county of Saint Clair and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire- EXtinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic fire extinguisher capable of protecting large areas, and has for its primary object to provide an apparatus of this character automatic in action and capable of thoroughly mixing the chemicals together.

An object of the invention is the novel manner of initially subjecting the fire to the action of chemicals and subsequently to a large flow of water minus any chemical.

Besides the above my invention is distinguished in a valve controlled over-balanced chemical receptacle which is held in an abnormal position by means of the valve.

With these and other objects in view the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my invention, certain parts to be shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view through the extinguisher.

Fig. .3 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a horizontal sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in an opposite position.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in side elevation and partly diagrammatic showing another form of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the magnet mechanism for releasing the weight.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 show ing the parts in an active position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail plan View, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section. 7

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates a solution tank having a removable cap 2 between which and the caslng is arranged a gasket 3. Depending from the under surface of the cap 2 are hangers 4 which support for pivotal movement a chemical receptacle 5 adapted when in an inactive position to be over-balanced by Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20 wilt.

, Application filed July 11, 1916. Serial No. 108,650.

and the receptacle contains an acid such for.

instance as sulfuric acid which when mixed with the alkali solution will generate a flame suffocating gas.

To prevent the action of the spring on the plug from taking place, I provide a lever 12 having one end pivotally connected to the cap to one side of the stem as indicated at 13 and having an intermediate portion bearing directly upon the pin 13 secured to the stem. The pivotal connection of the-lever 12 with the lug on the top of the cap 2, is a loose connection, permitting a limited lateral movement of the said lever. The stem 9, as well as the pin 13, carried thereby, are freely received between the convolutions of the spring 11, the said pin being of alength to prevent the contact thereof with the said spring, under any conditions. The lower end of the spring rests upon a split block or enlargement 13", and by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that when the stem 9 is moved to compress the spring and bring the plug valve 8 in the discharge port 7 of the receptacle 5, the pin 13 on the said stem 9 will be brought below the upper surface of the said block 18', thereby permitting the lever 12 to be swung over the said pin to hold the stem, against the tension of the spring, in its lower position, and in a manner which will presently be set forth. When the lever 12 is released, the spring 11 will expand, forcing the stem 9 to the position illustrated .in Fig. 5, and the sudden jar thus imparted npon the lever 12, will cause the same to move laterally upon its loose pivotal connection 13, and to rest on the top of the cap 2, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The remaining end of the lever 12 is shaped to engage under a lip 14 formed upon the free end of one of the arms of a bell crank lever 15 that is pivotally mounted upon the casing 1. The other arm of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected to one end of a rod 16 which also has pivotal connection with a weight 17. The weight 17 is prevented from actuating the bell crank lever 15 through the action of a cable 18 having arranged therein at spaced intervals,

fusible elements 19. A pipe 20 is arranged to establish communication between the bottom portion of the tank 1 and a plurality of nozzle heads 21 disposed at the proper points to protect the structure against fire. A water supply pipe 22 extends substantially parallel to the pipe 20 and communicates therewith at a point beyond the tank.

In the preferred form of my invention the weight 17 besides controlling the actuation of the bell crank lever 15 also actuates the stem 23 of a faucet 24 arranged in the pipe 22 and adapted to direct the flow of water into a suitable size bucket 24 that has a flexible connection 25 with a handle 26 of a valve 27. This valve 27 is arranged to establish communication between the pipes 20 and 22.

As far as I have proceeded it will be seen that when the fusible element 19 fuses the weight 17 will be free to gravitate to a position to dislocate the bell crank lever 15 from the lever 12 with the result that the spring 11 is free to expand, causing the valve 8 to move out of the port 7. This latter action allows the receptacle 5 to turn about its pivots due to the fact that it is over-balanced, so as to arrange the port 7 in a position to completely drain the receptacle 5 of its chemical contents. Simultaneously with this action the stem of the faucet 24 has been turned to a position to allow water to pass from the pipe 22 into the bucket 24'. The bucket 24: is of such a capacity as to allow enough time for all of the chemicals from the tank 1 to pass through the pipe 20 to the nozzle 21. When the bucket 24 has been completely filled the same will gravitate to a position to open the valve 27 which action causes a direct flow of water to the nozzles 21.

In the modified form of my invention the tank and associate parts are identical with that just described and a detailed description thereof will be eliminated.

In the modified form of my invention each nozzle 28 is so constructed as to open a pair of normally engaging contacts 29 upon the nozzle operating. The contacts 29 control the continuity of a circuit 30 that includes a battery 31 and an electromagnet 32. The armature 33 of the magnet supports a weight 341- through the medium of a link 34 which is in turn connected to a handle 35 of a faucet 36 arranged in a water supply pipe 37. As the magnet is normally energized'the armature 33 will as sume a position to prevent the weight 34; from moving to a position to open the faucet 36. If the circuit is interrupted the result, the armature will move to a position to allow the weight to act on the handle .of the faucet and open the same, and simultaneously with this action, the bell-crank lever 38 is operated, the lever 38 being connected to the handle of the faucet by means of a link 39 and an arm 40. .In this particular form of my invention I have shown the bucket 41 that receives water from the faucet 36 so arranged as to simultaneously open the chemical pipe 42 leading from the tank 1 and a valve 13 in the water supply pipe 37. By this arrangement it will be seen that the watersupply passing through the pipe 37 will be properly mixed with the chemicals formed in the tank 1.

It is to be understood that while all of the several features of my improved appa ratus have special cooperation with one another and together constitute a particularly effective mechanism for the urpose in view, certain of these may be applied .in other relations, and I therefore desire to cover the combination present in the several parts of my improved apparatus whether employed in the general organization shown or elsewhere.

It is further to be understood thatthe structural embodiment of the invention as a whole and its various features as shown is merely illustrative and not restrictive, since I am. well aware that many. of the details of construction can be widely varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited in these particulars or in any others except as set forth in the appended claims.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In an automatic fire extinguisher, a tank, an over-balanced receptacle mounted for pivotal movement within the tank and having adischarge ort, a valve closing said port, a valve stem extending through the a top of the tank, spring means encircling.

said stem and tending to elevate the same to open the valve and allow the receptacle to spill its contents into the tank, a lever pivoted at one end to the top of said tank, a second lever pivoted to the tank and engaging the first mentioned lever to hold the same operative, a pin fixed to the stem and engaged by said first mentioned lever to hold the stem depressed and weight actuated means acting on said. second mentioned lever to rock. the same and release the first mentioned lever.

2. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a tank, an overbalanced chemical receptacle mounted for pivotal movement thereon, means for holding said chemical receptacle upright, a sprinkler pipe communicating with said tank, a water supply pipe communicating" with Said sprinkler pipe,

means for releasing said first mentioned means allowing the chemical receptacle to spill its contents into the tank, a valve in said water supply pipe, a water receptacle connected to said valve to open the same when filled and means for supplying water to said receptacle.

3. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, a sprinkler pipe, a main supply pipe connected to said sprinkler pipe, a valve in said main supply pipe having a stem, a Water receptacle connected to said stem to swing the stem downwardly when filled and open the valve, a faucet preceding said valve for supplying water to the receptacle, and weighted means including a fusible element for opening said faucet.

4. In an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a tank, a sprinkler pipe connected to said tank, a chemical receptacle within the tank, a valve closing said receptacle and holding the same upright, levers holding said valve closed, means including a weight and fusible element for releasing said levers, a main water supply pipe connecting with said sprinkler pipe, a valve in said main supply pipe and means operating, a predetermined time after the operation of said first mentioned means, for opening said valve.

5. In an automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a tank, an over-balanced receptacle in said tank, a valve for closing said receptacle and holding the same upright, levers holding said valve operative, a sprinkler pipe, a. connection between said sprinkler pipe and tank, a valve in said connection, a main water supply pipe connected to said sprinkler pipe, a valve in said main Water supply pipe, a link operatively connected to each of said valves, a water receptacle suspended on said link, a faucet in the main Water supply pipe, a lever handle for opening said faucet, a link connecting said first mentioned levers to said lever handle, an electric circuit includin an armature, and a weight held suspende by said armature and connected to said lever handle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

AUGUST 0. SEEGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. G. 

